Clothes-drier



J. W. FLETCHER.

Patented May 27, 1890.

ilNiTijD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN \V. FLETCHER, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLOTH ES-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,023, dated May 27,1890.

Application filed December 2Q, 1889. Serial No. 334,387. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that 1, JOHN W. FLETCHER, of Chelsea, in the county of Suffolkand State of ltlassachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clothes-Horses, of which the followingis a full, clear,and we act description.

This invention consists of a clothes-horse more especially for houseuse, constructed and arranged for operation all substantially ashereinafter fully described, reference being had to the accompanyingsheet of drawings, in which is illustrated a clothes-horse having thisinvention applied thereto.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the clotheshorse in its open position,and Fig. 2 an end View in its closed position; Figs. 3 and 4, detailviews, enlarged, of the parts more particularly relating to thisinvention.

In the drawings, A A, B B, and C C represent uprights or legs in pairs,each pair being hinged together at their upper ends by hinges D and E,so that they can be opened from and closed upon each other, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2 more particularly. The several u p rights are connectedtogether, as shown by cross bars or rods F, as usual, on which theclothes or other articles are hung, which bars or rods are secured totheir respective uprights by screws G, forming pivots 011 which they canswing up and down, so that after the uprights are closed upon each otherby their hinges the end uprights Aand C can be swung down into theposition shown in Fig. 2, by which the horse is put in a close andcompact condition for putting away when not in use or for convenience intransportation.

To prevent the uprights opening from each other too far when the horseis open and in use, two rods H J are pivoted to the end uprights A C atC6 and to each other by a butt hinge-joint K, which prevents downwardmovement of the rods beyond substantially a horizontal plane, so thatthe horse is held in proper open position, and yet can be easily foldedwhen desired, all of which is well known, and therefore in itself doesnot conthe top of the uprights.

stitute the present invention, which relates more particularly to theconstruction of the hinges E in relation to the cross-bars, as will benow described.

The hinges E, connecting the middle uprights, are formed of twoleaves,but are bent, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4, so as to besecured to the outside of the uprights by screws 1), the joint (Z beingcentrally above Each leaf is preferably widened to extend atits free endeach side and beyond the sides of the upright to which it is securedto.forrn a bar or brace L, and in such position on the upright and inrelation to the upper cross-bars M that when the clothes-horse is openedout and extended for use, as shown in Fig. 1, the upper crossbars willabutand bear against the lower sides or edges f of the bar or braceportion of each leaf of the hinge, preventing farther upward movement ofthe cross-bars, so that the horse will be held in proper open positionfor use. The leaves of these hinges E are preferably made of sheet metalto make them light and of little cost, and the lower edge of each leafis bent or projects outward at a right angle or substantially at a rightangle to form a flange or rim, as shown at g in Fig. 4, moreparticularly to present,when the hingeleaf is made of thin material, abroad shoul der or bearing for the upper cross-bars when the horse isopen.

The hinge, with its bearing edges f, can be secured in any suitablemanner and can be made of any suitable material and shape for instance,by casting them from any suitable metal and with or without the'liange'or rim or angular projection. as desired; butit is preferable,however, to make it as described, as it can be made easily, striking itup out of the sheet metal and produced at a trifling cost; also, ifdesired, only oneleaf of the hinge need have the bearing portion f; butit is preferable to have both leaves so constructed, especially whenthere are uppercross-bars M on each side of the horse.

The rest or brace portion of the hinge should extend sufficiently eachside of the upright to present a length of benringr-snrthe uprights attheir npperemlszunl adapted face for 1110 cross-bars to hold theclothesto form a rest or hearing [or the cross-bars,

horse firmly in position when open. or the pnr mse specified.

The hinge can be niekel-plntc1l or ornn- In witness whereof I havehereunto set my 5 mented in any suitable manner. hand. in the presenceof two subscribing \\'i1;- 15

Having thus described my invention, what nesses. I clni1nis JOHN \V.FLETCHER.

In :L clothes-horse, the eon'ibiimtion, with Witnesses; the uprights andthe cross-bars suitably piv- EDWIN \V. illOVVN, 1o oted thereto, of ahinge connecting two of CARRIE E. NICHOLS.

